Apparatus for selecting and controlling the operation of cell doors

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for remotely engaging and disengaging a cell door from operating mechanism therefor and for locking the door in closed or open position. Specifically, the apparatus comprises a remotely controlled electro magnetic selector associated with the door effective when energized to ready the door for movement by the drive mechanism. The improvement may be associated with manual selector devices without affecting the construction or operability of the latter.

451 July 11, 1972 United States Patent Lentz et al.

XXMX 00 0 22 2 Ii/4/ 99 "9 m 5 ma mm m8 mm m c ammw .b m n FMYB 86 2 3% 66 w 99 /HH 92 9 52 7345 .3 QZM-J 2 5 2233 Primary Examiner.l. Karl Bell Artomeylennings. Carter 8: Thompson Decatur, both of Ala.

[73] Assignee: Decatur Iron and Steel Company CT [22} Filed: March 3, 1971 Apparatus for remotely engaging and disengaging a cell door from operating mechanism therefor and for locking the door in closed or open position Specifically, the apparatus comprises a remotely controlled electro magnetic selector associated with the door effective when energized to ready the door for movement by the drive mechanism. The improvement may be associated with manual selector devices without affecting the construction or operability of the latter.

6 China, 5 Drawing figures mwu WW 4H2 1 E.% "4 "I." 5" .1 ml." "m." 5 d w WU 0 "m" R 2 muh l. 1 u w s m A Um H HUN N 2 555 5 PHENTEDJUL 1 1 m2 SHEET 1 BF 3 1\ 'EN TOR TommyLLentz Afton Terry gull QUW Aflorne gs APPARATUS FOR SELECTING AND CONTROLLING THE OPERATION OF CELL DOORS Our invention relates to apparatus for remotely controlling the operation of cell doors such as are commonly used in prisons.

An object of our invention is to provide apparatus of the character designated which may be remotely controlled, as from a central office, or from the end of a cell block, and which, at the option of the operator may ready one, some, or all of the doors in a particular cell block for movement either from locked closed position to locked open position, or, from locked open position to locked closed position, all in response to the proper direction of movement of either mechanical or manual drive mechanism for the doors.

Our invention is adapted for association with any one of various forms of cell door drives, including those which may be manually operated, and also may be associated with manual selector means for selecting the doors for connection to the drive, without in any way affecting the structure or operation of such manual selector means.

Another object of our invention is to provide a remotely controlled selector means for the operation of cell doors which comprises essentially a common control member which may be in the form of a plate with a slot therein, together with motorized means associated with each selector lever for each door which, when energized, extends a member into position to engage the moving operator plate, whereby, upon movement of the plate or common operating member, the door or doors which have been selected are, through such motorized means, operatively connected to the actual power means for moving the door or doors along their tracks or guideways.

Another object of our invention is to provide selector mechanism of the character designated which embodies certain electrical lockouts effective to prevent the selection of a door from movement from any position to another position when the door is not in proper position for the selection which is attempted to be made.

Generally, an object of our invention is to provide an improved, remotely controlled, electrically responsive selector means for controlling the operation of cell doors which may be applied to existing installations, which eliminates the necessity of the guard having to enter the actual cell block area in order to open, close, lock or unlock the doors, and which apparatus is positive in operation and simple of construction.

Apparatus illustrating features of our invention is shown in the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application, in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmental, sectional isometric view of a control box in which is located our improved selector mechanism;

FIG. 2 is a detail fragmental view, partly in section, illustrating one of the motorized selector mechanisms for controlling an individual door;

FIG. 3 is a somewhat diagrammatic vertical sectional view taken through the control plate, showing three of the solenoids energized for the selection of three individual doors;

FIG. 4 is a fragmental, somewhat diagrammatic front elevational view of the upper portion of a pair of side by side cell doors and the overhead drive mechanism therefor; and,

FIG. 5 is a somewhat simplified, wholly schematic wiring diagram.

Referring now to the drawings for a better understanding of our invention, and particularly to FIG. 4, we first will describe a form of actual drive mechanism for cell doors with which our invention may be associated. Thus, in FIG. 4 we show a cell door which is suspended from overhead for movement on a track 11, there being the usual roller suspension means, not shown. The lock post 12 is located at the rear of the door, not door I0 in FIG. 4 being shown closed.

In the manner understood in the art the individual door, or a row of doors in a cell block are actually moved due to the reciprocation of what is called a main bar 13. The main bar passes over the entire line of doors in a given block and is reciprocated by means of a rack bar 14, driven from a shaft and gear arrangement 16, through a chain drive or the like l7,

from a source of power, no shown. Therefore, as will presently appear, when the main bar 13 reciprocates to the right or left as viewed in FIG. 4, the other mechanism which is common in the art and which will be briefly mentioned is actuated through pull rods 18, one for each door, and suitable linkage and detent mechanisms, to lock each individual door into driving relation to the main bar I3.

The mechanism which is operated by the push-pull rods 18 may be in the form of bell cranks l9 pivoted at 21 to a part of the stationary overhead cell structure.

Through a pair of links 22 the bell cranks I9 are connected to raise and lower a guide bar 23. A clutch arm bar 24 is adapted, when in the position shown in FIG. 4, to connect the door for sliding movement to the right as shown in FIG. 4.

From the foregoing it will be seen that we have described generally a common and well known form of drive means and engaging mechanisms for cell doors. Thus, when the rod 18 is moved to the right as shown in FIG. 4 the clutch arm 24 moves out of a slot in the main bar 13, thus disconnecting that particular door from the main bar. Also, as is customary when the door is fully closed it automatically locks by the usual means. Similarly, when the door is fully open it automatically locks by mechanism well known to the art. As will later appear our invention comprises means for selectively moving the rod l8 to the right or left, in order to engage or disengage the door or doors of a given cell block with the mainbar I3. Referring now particularly to FIG. I of the drawings, we show at 26 a control cabinet which may be in the form of a steel box and which may be located, if desired, at the end of a cell block, namely, at the end of a row of cell doors. First, it will be understood that the rods 18 from each door lead individually to the control box 26 where they are connected to bell cranks 27 pivoted at 28 in fixed position relative to the control box 26. Push-pull rods 29 are connected from the bell crank 27 to a bracket 31 carried on the top side of the individual, manually operable handles 32, one for each door. It will be understood that the series of rods 32 are pivoted to a common shaft 33 which spans the cabinet 26 and that the same may be secured at their inner ends to sleeves 34, to space them along the rod 33.

Again, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art the manual mechanisms described are old. That is to say, it is old in the art to have the manually operating handles or levers 32, the bell cranks 27, the push-pull rods 29, all for manually selecting a door or doors to be opened in response to the reciprocation of the main bar 13.

Our invention comprises means associated with the manually operable handles 32 for remotely, in etfect, engaging a selected one or plurality of the same, to operate the door or doors selected.

Mounted for vertical reciprocation in the cabinet 26, as for instance adjacent a rear wall 36 is a plate 37. The plate 37 may be confined for vertical movement in guides 38 carried by the back wall 36. Further, the plate may be mechanically moved up and down by means of a motor 39 which drives a shaft 41 journaled in bearings 42 supported on the floor of the cabinet. The actual connection may be through a gear 43 and a rack bar 44 secured to the plate, and power may be transmitted from the motor 39 through a reduction gear box 46 and a belt 47. Therefore, when the motor 39 is driven in one direction the entire plate 37 moves upwardly, and when the motor 39 is driven in the opposite direction the plate 37 moves downwardly, all as viewed in FIG. 1.

It will first be noted that the plate 37 is provided with an elongated, transversely extending notch 48, one for each row of the selector handles 32. As will presently appear, it is the engagement of certain mechanisms associated individually with each of the selector lever 32 with the bottom and top sides of the slots 48 which causes the particular handle to move up or down, thus to push or pull the selector rods 18.

As shown more in detail in FIG. 2, each of the selector handles 32, rearwardly of the common pivot rod 33 is provided with tube 49 opening rearwardly. The tube is slotted at the top as indicated at 51 to slidably receive an upstanding pin 52.

The lower end of the pin 52 is secured to a slidable pin 53 mounted in the tube 49. Mounted on the top of the tube 49 is a solenoid $4 the armature 56 of which is connected at 57 to a projection 58 carried on the upper end of the pin 52. A spring 59 holds the armature S6 and hence the pin 53 in withdrawn position that is, the spring holds the parts in the position shown in FIG. 2, until the solenoid 54 is energized.

As seen in FIG. 3 the pins 53 are located close enough to the plate 37 so that when the respective solenoids 54 are energized, the pins project through the slots 48 in the plate. Therefore, when the plate 37 moves up or down, the selector lever 32 is carried. The energized solenoid is rocked up or down about its pivot shaft 33, thereby either pushing or pulling the rod 18 leading to the individual door, and making the connection or disconnection to the main bar 13.

From what has been described it will be seen that our invention, utilizing individual motorized connecting means and a movable member such as the plate 37 to receive such means, is capable of controlling the doors individually insofar as connecting them or disconnecting them from the main bar is concerned. It will further be seen that our invention permits the complete automation of the selecting process, either from the end of the cell block or, from an ofiice quite remote from the entire cell area.

Referring now to FIG. we show a control circuit for our apparatus together with a minimum amount of auxiliary control circuitry for the entire system. At 61 we illustrate a momentarily closable push button switch. The closing of switch 6] energizes relay coil 62. The energization of relay 62 opens contacts 620 and 62b and closes contact sets 62:: and 62d. Sets of contacts 62c are holding contacts for relay 62. Energization of coil 62 energizes the solenoid 54 through the contacts 62d. This then has ejected one of the selector pins 53, placing it between the bottom and top walls defining the slot 48 in plate 37. The system is now readied for the operation of the particular door which has been selected. Closing of switch 61 also energizes a coil 63 which controls contacts 63a, 63b, normally open, and normally closed sets of contacts 63c and 63d. Furthermore, the closing of switch 61 energizes a coil 64 which has a series of contacts 64a which control indicator lights.

The next step is to close the momentary push button 66, whereupon motor 39 is energized in a direction to move plate 37 upwardly. When plate 37 reaches its uppermost position it actuates a switch 67 closing it. In view of the fact that the closing of switch 61 also energized a relay coil 68 which closed its contacts 680 and 68b, the closing of switch 67 energizes another relay coil 69 opening its contacts 690 and closing its contacts 69b. The momentary opening of switch 67, through line 71 energizes coil 72, opening contact 72 a and closing contact 7212. The coil 72 also has a second part or section 72. This action reverses the direction of motor 39, causing the plate to move down. This action also momentarily energizes coil 69 opening contact 690 and closing 69b, deenergizing relay 62 which in turn deenergizes the solenoids 54, permitting the spring 59 to retract the pin 53.

The plate 37 continues downwardly until it actuates a switch 73, moving it from the position shown in FIG. 5 to make the righthandmost contact shown therein. The momentary closing of the switch to contact 73a again closes contacts 72a, opening contact 72b. The motor 39 thus is running in a direction to again raise the plate 37. Also, the momentary making of contact 73 deenergizes relay 64, deenergizing the signal lamp 74 and energizing the signal lamp 76, indicating that the clutch pin 24 is coupled to the main bar. Also, momentary closing of the switch 73 to make contact 73a energizes a reversing magnetic contactor 77, energizing the motor 78 which is operatively connected to drive the chain 17, which inturn drives shah l6 and rack bar 14. Operation of the motor 78 is under control of a rotary limit switch 79, which switch counts the number of revolutions of the shaft 16, and stops the motor 78 at the proper place, both on its opening movement and its closing movement.

The plate 37 continues its up movement until a lug thereon hits a stop switch 81, closing the same. This stops the plate 37 with the respective notches in line with the respective sets of plungers.

With the foregoing cycle completed the door 10 is now in open locked position. The pin 53 is withdrawn, inasmuch as its solenoid 54 is deenergized. The lever 32 is in the engaged position namely, that the clutch arm 24 is in driving engage ment with the main bar 13.

If it be assumed now that it is desired to close the door from the position just mentioned and to lock it, the first step is to momentarily close a switch 82. The closing of switch 82 energizes the magnetic contactor 77 closing a set of contacts in position to run the motor 78 in the direction to close the door. The rotary timer 79 cuts the motor off at the proper time, when the door is closed.

Assuming that the door is closed and locked, but with the clutch arm 24 still engaged with the main bar l3, and it is now desired to disengage a door so that others in the series may be operated, the first step is to momentarily close the push button 61. In the state of the circuitry at this time the closing of 61 energizes a relay 83, and through its contacts as shown energizes the solenoid 54 again projecting the pin 53 outwardly into the slot 48. The closing of 61 also energizes relay 64 to change the light signals and also energizes relay 68. The next step is momentarily to close the button 66, energizing the motor 39 in a position to move the plate 37 upwardly. The plate 37 moves upwardly and hits the stop switch 67, momen tarily moving it from the position shown in FIG. 5 to supply energy to line 71, reversing the direction of the motor 39 and also opening contact 69b and closing contact 690. The upper wall of the opening 48 engages the end of the pin 53 on its downward movement and moves the pin 53 to center position, whereupon the plate hits another switch 84, deenergizing relay 83 and again deenergizing 64 to switch over the light signals. Also, the actuation of switch 84 reverses the motor 39 causing the plate again to travel upwardly and when it opens switch 81 the motor 39 is deenergized. The parts are now in the position with the slots 48 again centered, vertically, relative to the rows of pins 53. In this position just described the door 10 is in closed locked position, with the clutch bar 24 with drawn from the main bar l3. This permits the actuation of other doors of the series from the main bar l3, by the identical circuitry already described, it being understood that there is a set of each of these circuits insofar as the control switches are concerned, for each door.

In view of the foregoing it will be seen that we have devised an improved system for controlling the operation of prison cell doors. While we have not described in detail other circuitry which may be needed further to automate the system, we have described herein the essential circuitry and the essential mechanism. For instance, in practice we prefer to use direct current clutches of the magnetic friction type to actually operate the doors so that should a person be caught therein the clutch will slip without injury to him. Also, there are various forms of electrical lockouts which may be incorporated to prevent energization of the system while in motion, while in the incorrect position relative to the position selected, and so forth. Also, while the plate 37 is in motion we can provide, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art, means to electrically nullify the closing of other buttons, thus to prevent damage to the pins on the other door mechanisms.

While we have shown our invention in but one form, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various other changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof.

What we claim is:

1. ln apparatus for operating a prison cell door of the kind having drive means for moving the door from open to closed position and vice versa, means for engaging and disengaging the door relative to the drive means comprising,

a. a selector member for connecting the door to the drive means,

b. a movable operator for the selector, and

c. a motorized member associated with the selector disposed when in one position for operative connection to the selector, whereby the door may be connected or disconnected to the door drive means by moving the operator.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which the operator is in the form of a slidable plate-like member having an opening therein, said motorized member associated with the selector being disposed for movement into said opening for connecting the selector to the operator, thereby the connect or disconnect the door to the door drive means upon sliding movement of the plate.

3. An apparatus for selectively operating one, some, or all of a series of prison cell doors of the kind having a common drive means for moving the doors from open to closed position and vice versa,

a. an individual selector member for each door of the series effective when actuated to connect its door to the door drive means,

b. a common motorized operator for said selectors, and

c. a motorized member on each of the selectors efi'ective when energized to connect its selector to the operator, whereby any door or doors of the series may be selected for opening or closing by energizing the desired motorized members of the appropriate selector or selectors, whereby upon subsequent energization of the motorized operator said selected door or doors is connected to the door drive means.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 3 in which the motorized operator is a plate-like slidable member having a slot therein located to receive said motorized members of the selectors when the latter are energized, each of said members being reciprocable from positions outside the slot to positions inside the same, whereby sliding of the plate-like member causes the sides of the slot to engage said motorized member thereby to actuate said selectors.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 3 in which there are controls effective to return said motorized operator, upon each actuation thereof, to a pre-selected position relative to said motorized members on the selectors for connection thereto, whereby the motorized operator is always in position operatively to receive said motorized members after completion of a previous cycle.

6. Apparatus as defined in claim 3 in which there are manually operable means associated with each of said selectors by means of which each door may be connected to or disconnected from said door drive means, the relation and configuration of the parts including said motorized operator being such as to permit said manual selection when the motorized operator is in predetermined position relative to the motorized members of the selectors.

i i II t i 

1. In apparatus for operating a prison cell door of the kind having drive means for moving the door from open to closed position and vice versa, means for engaging and disengaging the door relative to the drive means comprising, a. a selector member for connecting the door to the drive means, b. a movable operator for the selector, and c. a motorized member associated with the selector disposed when in one position for operative connection to the selector, whereby the door may be connected or disconnected to the door drive means by moving the operator.
 2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which the operator is in the form of a slidable plate-like member having an opening therein, said motorized member associated with the selector being disposed for movement into said opening for connecting the selector to the operator, thereby the connect or disconnect the door to the door drive means upon sliding movement of the plate.
 3. An apparatus for selectively operating one, some, or all of a series of prison cell doors of the kind having a common drive means for moving the doors from open to closed position and vice versa, a. an individual selector member for each door of the series effective when actuated to connect its door to the door drive means, b. a common motorized operator for said selectors, and c. a motorized member on each of the selectors effective when energized to connect its selector to the operator, whereby any door or doors of the series may be selected for opening or closing by energizing the desired motorized members of the appropriate selector or selectors, whereby upon subsequent energization of the motorized operator said selected door or doors is connected to the door drive means.
 4. Apparatus as defined in claim 3 in which the motorized operator is a plate-like slidable member having a slot therein located to receive said motorized members of the selectors when the latter are energized, each of said members being reciprocable from positions outside the slot to positions inside the same, whereby sliding of the plate-like member causes the sides of the slot to engage said motorized member thereby to actuate said selectors.
 5. Apparatus as defined in claim 3 in which there are controls effective to return said motorized operator, upon each actuation thereof, to a pre-selected position relative to said motorized members on the selectors for connection thereto, whereby the motorized operator is always in position operatively to receive said motorized members after completion of a previous cycle.
 6. Apparatus as defined in claim 3 in which there are manually operable means associated with each of said selectors by means of which each door may be connected to or disconnected from said door drive means, the relation and configuration of the parts including said motorized operator being such as to permit said manual selection when the motorized operator is in predetermined position relative to the motorized members of the selectors. 